Capclave: A Celebration of Short Stories, Anthologies, and the Business of Books

Are you in the Washington D.C. are this weekend? Because if you are, Pip and I are going to be out and about at Capclave, on Friday and Saturday at the Hilton of 620 Perry Parkway, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20877.

Capclave, if you have never attended, is not a bustling event like Balticon or RavenCon; but a more intimate affair that focuses more on the art of short fiction.

And yes, short fiction is an art. You might not think it with my releases this year, but short stories have always been a challenge for me. It’s only been recently I’ve felt comfortable writing short stories, and Capclave is a rare event indeed as short stories take center stage. Discussions range between the challenges of the market to the big question “Is there still a market for short stories?”

Oh yeah, and did I mention George R R Martin is the Guest of Honor this year?

Now for anyone who thinks I’m going to corner him, take him down with a Hapkido throw, jam my boot in his throat, and demand that he gets me an audience with Peter Dinklage, I’m just going to say for the record that I’m not going to corner him.

So, yeah, that.

But if you are looking to corner me at Capclave, you’ll get your chance here…

Do some authors put on a false front at cons and interviews to gain attention? Should others hide their beliefs/views to avoid offending potential readers? Have you self-censored something you almost wrote/said and why? What do you do when a reader assumes the author believes the ideas expressed by characters (even the villain)?

Saturday, 1:00 pmFrederick
READING — “Thanks for the Memories”

Next week, my second Kindle Worlds novella “Thanks for the Memories” will be going live next week on Amazon. At Capclave, I’ll be offering an exclusive sneak peek at my take on Valiant Comics’ Bloodshot universe and answering questions on the Kindle Worlds’ program.

Saturday, 3:00 pm
Rockville/Potomac
TOPIC — Hearing Voices

Some of today’s top stories are now being podcast. How do podcasts expand the market? Where to find them? Who should you be listening to on a regular basis?

Saturday, 4:00 pmRockville/Potomac
TOPIC —Quote the Raven

Forbidden Planet shows some strong similarities to Shakespeare’s The Tempest and Honor Harrington’s historical borrowings are easy to spot. But what if your influences and references are not as well known? How do you connect it for readers? Should you spell it out or hope someone catches your subtle references? What authors do this well?

Saturday, 7:30pm
Salons, A, B, and CDE
Signing

Bring a book we’ve written and we will gladly sign it.

And yep, Pip will be there as well…

Friday, 6:00 pm
Rockville/Potomac
TOPIC — Buy My Book

Self promotion and you. Nervous about talking about your books and stories? There are some things you should do and avoid when talking about your writing.

Friday, 7-8 pm
Author’s Hallway
Author Table

Pip will be there to sign books, say hello, maybe even share a story or two. Feel free to swing by and say “Hello.”

Friday, 8:00 pm
Rockville/Potomac
TOPIC —Producing Your Own Anthology

This panel talks a bit about the business of putting together an anthology of original fiction or even collected essays. Where do you go from the idea? What options are available? Print? eBook? Audio? How do you work with others, especially when it comes to the editorial process? Hear from the panelists tips and tricks on getting along with others and the tools needed to put together a terrific anthology, and the pros and cons on working with friends.

Saturday, 10:00 am
Salon A
TOPIC — Moving Beyond the Small Press

A look at how small presses in the age of the eReaders – where anyone can be a publisher – have their limits, and what to do when you’ve hit them. There is also the additional pressure of performing on a higher level. Listen to panelists describe what to do when you have plateaued with your own independent publisher, and what lies ahead if or when you step up to corporate publishers.

Saturday, 5:00 pm
Salon A
TOPIC — White Out

LeGuin complained that many Earthsea covers whitewashed the characters (as did the SciFi movie). The worlds of many fantasy/SF novels seem to be overwhelmingly white and European. Why do writers (and cover artists) do this? How can we bring diversity into our genres? Is it getting better? Are non-white authors and hero(ines) still rarities?

This is where you will find us this weekend, and hopefully we will find you there as well. Don’t be shy — make sure to introduce yourself and share your thoughts on the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences, upcoming releases, and what’s coming next. We hope to see you there!